Asim lures Cong: change company

“Whatever others do,you (Congress) can work along with us for the future of our state,” said Dasgupta. The Trinamool,however,has boycotted the discussion on the Budget and was absent in the House.

In the discussion,Congress members alleged that the government has neglected industrialisation of the state.

There was a time when the state was one of the top three states in the country in industrial development,but in the last 30 years the state’s situation has become distressful. Dasgupta said: “Not you (Congress),your friends (Trinamool) stalled the Singur project. The scope of employment has gone to the other state. They will have to answer in future.”

Taking a dig at Trinamool,Dasgupta said he was confident that Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be able to strike a balance between the market economy and the welfare role of the state. “We cannot avoid the welfare role of the state. I believe that union finance minister will be able to tackle this,” said Dasgupta. He was hopeful that Mukherjee would help the state to get the Rs 5,000 crore coal royalty. The minister elaborated on the various steps taken by the state government for poor people.

Congress Legislative Party leader Manas Bhuniya blamed that the Left government has failed to allocate more funds in plan outlay and development as well. “This is a failure on the part of economic management,” Bhuniya said,referring to the Andhra Pradesh government,which granted more than Bengal in the plan outlay.

Dasgupta said: “It is true that the Andhra government allocated more for development. But they are collecting Rs 9,000 crore from excise whereas West Bengal is collecting only Rs 1,500 crore from excise duty. Do you want that we sell more liquor in the state like AP?”

5 pc DA for govt staff
The state government announced five per cent DA for government employees on Friday. About four lakh employees,including teachers and municipal staff will benefit from the decision,which will come into effect from April 1